Telegraph code translating apparatus



Jan. 5, 1932.

R. D. SALMON TELEGRAPH CODE TRANSLATING APPARATUS Filfld lay 19. 1931FIG. I 20 INVENTOR I BY jg'W USALMON ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 1932 UNITEDSTATES.

PATENT OFFICE REGINALD DENNIS SALMON, OF CROYDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TOCREED & 00., LTD., OF CROYDON, ENGLAND TELEGRAPH CODE TBANSLATINGAPPARATUS Application filed May 19, 1931, Serial No. 538,602, and inFrance June 28, 1830.

This invention relates to telegraph code translating or transposingmachines.

In translating apparatus of this class a series of members areselectably set in accordance with the elements of each signal in onecode, to control the selective setting of another series of members inaccordance with the elements of the corresponding signal in anothercode.

In some codes, certain signals or groups thereof require the prefixingof an appropriate case shift signal. This arises in translating fromcodes such as the Morse or similar unequal length codes to a five-unitcode. The maximum possible number of combinations of the five elementsin the latter code being thirty-two, the remaining signals required inpractical operation are obtained by using identical combinations fordifferent signals in two groups, and indicating the desired group by anadditional case shift signal.

According to the present invention, therefore, in apparatus fortranslating signals from one telegraph code into another requiring caseshift signals, means is provided for inserting an appropriate case shiftsignal upon change of case in the translated code.

The invention will be described as applied to code translating apparatusin which signals perforated in a tape according to the elements of eachsignal in one code are employed to control, signal by signal, thesetting of a series of notched members. This selects one of a pluralityof transverse selector bars individual to that signal perforated in thetape, which selector bar is then actuated to set another series of barsnotched according to the code into which it is desired to translate thesignals perforated in the tape. The second series of members are thenemployed to perforate a tape according to the elements of each signal inthe translated code. It will be appreciated, however, that means may beemployed to set the first series of members other than by perforatedtape;

also that the signals in the translated code' to D. Murray, October 18,1921, and it is not thought necessary to show them in the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown only the essential featuresembodying my invention.

Fig. 1 shows a plan of one arrangement according to the presentinvention, while Figs. 2 and 3 show elevations of details thereof.

Referring to the drawings, a series of independent parallel combinationbars 1 are suitably supported for longitudinal movement and carry acorresponding series of peckers 2 which co-operates with holesperforated in a tape 3. If it is desired to translate signals from Morsecable code, six pairs of bars are provided and the peckers on alternatebars are suitably staggered so that six bars co-operate with dotperforations situated above the line of center holes in the tape and theother six bars co-operate with dash perforations below the line ofcenter holes. If it is desired to translate from the Morse land linecode ten pairs of bars are provided. For unequal length codes adifferential tape feed is arranged to move the tape a distanceequivalent to the number of center holes in the combination perforatedin the tape for each signal, plus one for the letter space, in anymanner already wellknown and, therefore, only indicated diagrammaticallyin the drawings at 4. The tape is thus drawn, signal by signal, past theends of peckers 2 and means is provlded (not shown) then to move thetape against the peckers to move in a longitudinal direction those bars1 against which the corresponding peckers encounter blank tape. When aperforation occurs in the tape the correspondin pecker enters theperforation and the combination bar is not moved. Cam means driven bymechanical power may be employed to feed the tape, signal by signal, andto move the tape against the peckers. The combination bars 1 havesquaretopped notches cut in various positions on the upper edges andco-operate with transverse selector bars 5 which are arranged in twogroups for a purpose to be hereinafter ivoted on rod 6. When thecombination ars 1 are set in various longitudinal comvbinationsaccording to the perforations in the tape, the notches are aligned toselect one only of the transverse bars 5 and this selector baris'individual to the signal perforated in the tape.

These means to select one of a plurality of selector bars 5 inaccordance with signals, the elements of which are arranged accord ingto the Morse or any other telegraph code, are already known and form nopart of the resent invention. For this reason it will e understood thatany other means may be substituted therefor. The essential is that,accordingto the manner of reception of the signals, one of a pluralityof members is selected corresponding to each signal to be translated.

Arranged parallel to the before-mentioned Morse code combination bars 1is a second series of five combination bars 7. Notches are cut invarious combinations on the edges of these bars under each of theselector bars 5 in accordance with the arrangement of the five elementsin the five-unit translated code corresponding to each signalrepresented by that selector bar. A universal bar 8, preferably actuatedby a cam driven from the means for selecting the afore-mentionedtransverse bar 5, is arranged to raise any transverse bar which waspreviously selected and, after the combination bars 1 have beenselectably set to select another bar 5, universal bar 8 is lowered andthe selected bar allowed to fall into the aligned notches. This causesthe selected bar-5 to engage with the second set of combination bars 7and thus select the elements in the five-unit code corresponding to thesignal represented by the selected bar. The combination bars 7 may haveinclined teeth so as to be positively moved in various combinations ondepression of the selected bar 5. A suitable method for this p11 ose isfor the universal bar 8 to drop an the aligned notches and then for asecond universal bar (not shown) to depress further, by mechanicalpower, whichever bar has been selected. An alternative method is to haves uare-cut notches of suitable width so that t e selected combinationbars are held against longitudinal movement, while the remainder arefree to slide. If it is desired to perforate a tape in the translatedfive-unitcode, the latter arrangement is allow the selected bar to fallinto ment cause their corresponding punches to perforate the tape 9while the remaining punches and bars are free to slide in a 1ongitudinaldirection.

Means for translating from one telegraph code into another,substantially as described above, is already known. According to thepresent invention, however, in order that an appropriate case shiftsignal may be inserted upon change of case in the translated code, theselector bars 5 corres onding to signals in the five-unit code whichbelong to each group, of which, in general, the letters constitute onegroup and figures and punctuation marks form the second group, arearranged in two series in the length of the combination bars 7 asindicated at 12 and 13. Under each of these groups is a separate rockingbar 14 and 15, which is independently pivoted in a suitable manner at16, 17 and 18, 19. Suitabl pivoted on rod 6 are two further selector ars20 and 21 which do not engage in any manner with either of the series ofnotched combination bars 1 or 7, but which are employed on depression toset a further series of five combination bars 22, which may be arrangedparallel to and alternate with the set of five bars 7. N otches arearranged on combination bars 22 only under selector bars 20 and 21 toform the respective letter and figure case shift combinations in thesame manner as previously indicated. These selector bars 20 and 21 arethe only ones to act on these combination bars 22, the remainder of thelength of the bars 22 being clear of notches for this purpose. .Theuniversal bar 8, however, is adapted to raise, on the completion of asignal, either of the bars 20 or 21 which may have been released, inaddition to a selected bar 5. Mounted at right angles to rocking bars 14and 15 are two stop pieces 23 and 24, each of which normally rests underan extension of the selector bars 20 and 21 respectively, but when thecorresponding rocking bar is depressed on selection of any one of theselector bars 5 in that group, the stop piece 23 or 24 permits thecorresponding bar 20 or 21 to fall and thus set the second set ofcombination bars 22 for the required case shift combina-,

., lel to the series 7 which perforates the translated signalcombination, and at a distance of one center hole in advance thereof. Itis a simple matter, then, to arrange for the tape feed to take placeprevious to actuating the tape against the punches and for the tape tobe fed a uniform distance of one center hole when each singlecombination is to be punched, and for an extra center hole to be fed, ora total of two center holes, whenever a case shift combination is set upin addition.

It is essential. however, that only one case shift combination be set upprevious to each signal or group of signals in the same case, and that.onl v.on the occurrence of the first signal in the opposite case of thetranslated signals. should the 'ase shift signal be preti.\ed. For thispurpose means, such as shown before in Figs. 2 and 3, may convenientlybe employed. Lever pivoted at 26 has two horizontal arms :27 and 28,each of which extends under one of the arms 29 or 30 of thecorrespomling rocking rod 14 or 15, respectively. An arm 31 at rightangles to these horizontal arms 27 and 28 carries a pin 32, to which isattached a helical spring 33, the other end of which is attached to afixed pin 31. This spring 33 constitutes a convenient means of biasinglever 25 to whichever position it. was last actuated. Arm 31 of lever 25is of such a length that when bars 20 and :21 are in the normally 'aisedposition, arm 31 swings under whichever bar is on the side to which ithas been actuated and prevents any further depression of that bar, whilethe lever 25 remains in that position. Suitable stop pins 35 and 36limit the motion of lever 25.

The operation is as follows. When a signal effects the selection of abar 5, in group 12 or the letter group, for instance, the cone spondingcombination is set up on bars 7, as previously described. The depressionof the selected bar 5 simultaneously depresses rocking rod Li and movesstop piece 23 from under the letter case shift selector bar 20, whichalso falls and is actuated together with selector bar 5, correspondingto the signal, to set up the combination for the letter case shift. ()ndepression of rocking rod 14, arm 29 thereof actuatcs horizontal arm 27of lever 25. arm 81 is thereupon held by tension of spring 33 againstthe side of lever 20 until this lever is raised on completion of thesignal by universal bar 8. Further translated signals in group 12 will,therefore, not cause any further actuation of selector bar 20, but on asignal occurring in the opposite or figure group 13. stop piece 24 movesfrom under selector bar 21 and the figure case shift combination is setup on bars 22 simultaneously with the translated signal on bars 7.Rocking rod 15 is depressed by the selected bar 5 in group 13 and arm 28of lever 2-5 is depressed by arm 30 of rocking rod 15, so that arm 31 isactuated over against selector bar 21, against which it rests until thecompletion of this signal. Upon completion of the first signal. bar 21is raised and arm 31 thereupon springs under select-or bar 21 andthereafter prevents the repetition of the case shift signal so long assignals continue to be translated in that group 13.

While the invention has been described as applied to telegraph codetranslating apparatus in which notched combination bars are employed, itwill be appreciated that the method herein shown, of separating themeans responding to those signals corresponding to each case or groupfor the translated code, and providing means for inserting anappropriate case-shift signal before the first combination only uponchange of case or group, is applicable to other kinds of translatingapparatus with corresponding changes in the details of construction ofthe means providing the feature according to the invention. s

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. A telegraph code translating apparatus in which a series of membersis selectably set in accordance with the elements of each signal in onecode to control the selective setting of another series of members inaccordance with the elements of the corresponding signal in anothercode, and means for inserting a shift signal upon change of case in thetranslated code.

2. A telegraph code translating apparatus comprising two series ofmembers, means for selectively setting one of said series of members inaccordance with the signals of one code, means for selectively settingthe other series of members in accordance with the signals of the othercode, and means for inserting a shift signal upon changing from one codeto another.

3. A telegraph code t 'anslating apparatus comprising a series ofmembers, means for selectively setting said members in accordance withthe elements of each signal in one code, a second series of members,means controlled by the setting of the first members for controlling theselective setting of the second members in accordance with the elementsof the corresponding signal in another code, and means for inserting ashift signal upon changing from one code to another.

4. An apparatus for translating signals from one code to another, meansfor inserting a control signal upon changing from one case to another.

5. An apparatus for translating signals from one code to another, meansresponsive to each series of code signals, means for separating saidresponsive means, and means for inserting a shifting signal only uponthe change from one case to another.

6. An apparatus for translating signals from one code group to another,means responding to those signals corresponding to each group or casefor the translated code, means for separating the responsive means,

and means for inserting a shift signal before the. first combinationonly upon the change' from one group or case to the other.

7. An apparatus for translating signals from one code to another, aperforated tape punched in accordance with one code, means under controlof said tape to roduce a perforated tape punched in accordance withanother code, and means for inserting a shift signal in the secondmentioned perforated tape.

8. An ap aratus for translating signals from one co e to another,comprising a group of selecting devices representing one code, a secondgroup of selectingdevices representing another code, and means forinserting a slnft signal upon changing from onecode. to another.

9. A11 ap aratus for translating signals from one co e to another,comprising punches for perforating a tape in accordance with thetranslated signal combinations, the perforation for each combinationbeing spaced at certain distance apart, and means for increasing thespacing distances upon changing from one code to another.

10. An apparatus for translating signals from one code to another,comprising a tape provided with a series of holes, means for perforatingsaid tape in accordance with the translated signal combinations, eachcombination of perforations spaced apart the distance of one of saidholes, and means for increasing the spacing upon changing from one codeto another.

11. An ap aratus for translating signals from one co e to another,comprising a tape provided with a series of holes, means for perforatingsaid tape in accordance with the translated signal combinations, eachcombination of perforations spaced apart the distance of one of saidholes, and means for inserting a shift signal, the addition of saidshift signal increasing the spacing distance to two of said holes.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 15th day of May,1931.

REGINALD DENNIS SALMON.

